The Weekly Trade #6

How did I spend all that lovely money I got for Christmas this past week?

Starman Omnibus, Volume One (hardcover)
Written by James Robinson; art by Tony Harris; published by DC Comics.
Collecting the first 16 issues of Robinson's acclaimed 1994-2001 run, this is something I have been looking forward to buying for ages.

Axe Cop, Volume One (softcover)
Written by Malachai Nicolle; art by Ethan Nicolle; published by Dark Horse Comics.
I've already posted by review for this, and there's not much more I can say.

Captain America: Two Americas (softcover)
Written by Ed Brubaker; art by Luke Ross and Butch Guice; published by Marvel Comics.
Finally found this bad boy, the "What next?" after Cap's amazing return.

Secret Invasion (softcover)
Written by Brian Michael Bendis; art by Leinil Yu; pubished by Marvel Comics.
Marvel's Big Event story from 2008, and another thing I have been meaning to buy.

NOTE: There will be no new content tomorrow, due to New Years shenanigans, but regularly scheduled posts will (probably) return in 2011. See you then!

Axe Cop, Volume One (Review)

Writer: Malachai Nicolle

Artist: Ethan Nicolle
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Collects: Axe Cop Episodes 0-70; Ask Axe Cop #1-42

Axe Cop is a popular online webcomic written by 5-year-old Malachai Nicolle and illustrated by his older brother Ethan. Filled with zany characters, outlandish scenarios, and imaginative plots that could only have come from the mind of a child, it's no surprise that Axe Cop finally found an outlet in Dark Horse.

Following the hilarious and violent adventures of the eponymous Axe Cop (whose catchphrase is "I will chop your head off!") in his day-to-day battles with aliens, robots and general evil-doers, aided by an overwhelming supporting cast, this is just about the funniest thing I have ever read.

No adult writer, in any medium, can possibly replicate the pure, unfiltered creativity of Malachai's 5-year-old brain. Axe Cop is thought given form, and captures that raw childhood imaginative energy perfectly on the page. It almost defies criticism, because to enjoy it one must regress oneself to that long-gone mindset that favours instant gratification over slow development. Not to say that it lacks relative depth and complexity once you've swallowed your pompous grown-up pride and knelt down to look your inner child in the eye, rather than sneer judgementally down your nose.

My Top Ten Trades of 2010

Hopefully, this will become an annual feature (if I last long enough).

2010 is nearly over, and I'm sure you've seen many "best blanks of the year" lists on various websites, so why not here too?

It should be noted that this list reflects the opinions of me and me alone, and is open to highly questionable debate and scrutiny. I also feel the need to further distance myself from reprisals by mentioning that I am just one man and sadly cannot read everything that comes out in one year. I'm bound to read a 2010 trade next year and think "Damn, I wish I had included that in the list."

Furthermore, this list counts trades that were released in 2010, regardless of when the collected material came out. And, lastly but sadly, there were some trades that will be released after I post this list that don't even get a look-in. But it just didn't seem right to do this in 2011.

Enough talk! On with my top ten favourite trades of 2010...

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Volume One (Review)

Writer: Roger Langridge

Artist: Chris Samnee

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Collects: Journey into Mystery #83-84; Thor: TMA #1-4

A continuity-free, all-ages series released as a companion to its mainstream counterpart, Thor: The Mighty Avenger tells the story of a god who fell to Earth. Unsure of why he is here, Thor quickly finds himself becoming an unwary superhero in the world of mortals, while also becoming wrapped up in the life of museum curator Jane Foster.

This was a breath of fresh air. Light-hearted but unrestrained, TMA is good old-fashioned superhero fun in every form. This should be held up as a basic example of how to do good comics without resorting to moody moping which, although effective, is not always essential.

Despite being chock full of exciting action sequences, this is first and foremost a love story in a very modern sense. Snappy dialogue, genuinely funny comedy pacing, and heartwarming moments between Thor and Jane make this seem like a rare breed of superhero rom-com that's actually quite good. The best material in here is the quiet interactions of those two starcrossed lovers.

Superman: Secret Origin (Review)

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Gary Frank

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Superman: Secret Origin #1-6

Many writers over the years have attempted to tinker with the Last Son of Krypton's well worn origin. From Grant Morrison's one-page summary in All-Star Superman to John Byrne's groundbreaking Man of Steel mini-series. Mark Waid tried to shake things up in the epic Birthright, as did J. Michael Straczynski with the more recent Superman: Earth One.

But the three greatest words a superhero fan can hear are, "Back. To. Basics." And that is a principle Geoff Johns excels at.

Anybody looking for a trendy new take on Superman best check elsewhere. Anybody looking for a brilliant and heartfelt story about a true legend, this is it.

The Weekly Trade #5

With Christmas fast approaching (I know, I'm just as shocked), this will probably be my last Weekly Trade update til after the big day, possibly even the new year. You can also expect more sporadic reviews and musings too. Nevertheless, let's see how I'm stocking up for winter...

Superman: Secret Origin (hardcover)
Written by Geoff Johns; art by Gary Frank; published by DC Comics.
You have no idea how eagerly I have been anticipating Geoff Johns' take on the most famous superhero origin story of all time. I'm struggling not to read it as I type this.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Volume One (really small softcover)
Written by Roger Langridge; art by Chris Samnee; published by Marvel Comics.
Hopefully the ridiculous size of this trade does not put me off the much-praised story.

Green Lantern Corps: To Be a Lantern (softcover)
Written by Dave Gibbons; art by Dave Gibbons and Patrick Gleason; published by DC Comics.
This is a great series, and I'm catching up on it slowly but surely. I missed this trade due to faulty numbering and my own foolishness. Also, Dave Gibbons!

Hope you have a great Christmas! I'll try to keep the fire burning.

Where Do I Start With... Daredevil

Who?

Created by Bill Everett and Marvel giant Stan Lee, The Man Without Fear debuted in his own eponymous series in 1964, as a blind lawyer granted superhuman senses by the very radioactive substance than cost him his sight.

Now defending the New York neighbourhood of Hell's Kitchen as Daredevil, Matt Murdock applies his unique sensory gifts and his uncanny fighting skills in his tireless quest against injustice.

Okay, so where do I start?

The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2004.

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Tony Moore

Publisher: Image Comics

Collects: The Walking Dead #1-6

Re-reading The Walking Dead from the start is no small task, and not to be made without much deliberation.

You relate so well to the characters that you genuinely feel part of their experience; part of their lives. To retrace their steps, rather than rely on faded memories, seems almost like cheating in a way. It is something that these poor people can never do.

As has been said many times about this on-going series, it defies convention. One of the most successful comic book series currently coming out, yet it is from an indie publisher, it isn't about superheroes, it's entirely in black and white, it's dialogue-heavy, released sporadically -- it should not be as popular as it is. The reasons for its miraculous success will be debated for all time and never set in stone.

With the excellent TV show's first season in the bag, I was inspired to re-embark on this incredible journey -- and I mean that both literally and metaphorically -- all the way back at the beginning, with our reluctant hero Rick Grimes.

The Ultimates: Super-Human (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2002.

Writer: Mark Millar

Artist: Bryan Hitch

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Collects: The Ultimates #1-6

Ultimate Marvel was based on the simple premise of upgrading classic characters for a modern readership, cut clean from the mire of mainstream continuity. The Ultimates were going to be the frontline team of this new universe -- the all-new Avengers for today's world. Not that, in my opinion, there's anything wrong with the classics, but that's another story.

And just in case you didn't comprehend the ramifications of that concept, the first volume of this series, Super-Human, drives it home with a non-stop "This is a big deal" theme. Straight away, the first issue is almost entirely devoted to introducing the new Captain America with a grizzly war-time sequence that evokes the spirit of the old Kirby/Simon tales, and that praise should not be taken lightly. This hard-punching, wisecracking, yet still heavy-hearted opening sets the tone for the rest of the story.

The Weekly Trade #4

I usually buy my comics on a Thursday, but due to severe weather and even more severe Christmas shopping, I'm giving this week a miss. I'll pick up the slack in the coming week, but in the meantime, here's what I would have bought this week...

DCU Christmas Special 2010 (Issue)
By various writers and artists; published by DC Comics
Picked up last year's special and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to see what's in store with this Christmas treat.

Batman: The Widening Gyre, Volume One (Hardcover)
Written by Kevin Smith; art by Walt Flanagan and Art Thibert; published by DC Comics
The first part of Kevin Smith's latest Batman story, which he wrote entirely under the influence of marijuana. Whether incredible or terrible, this is a must-read.

Darkwing Duck: The Duck Knight Returns (Softcover)
Written by Ian Brill; art by Nathan Watson and James Silvani; published by BOOM! Studios
There's conflicting reports on when this comes out (one of the perils of trade-waiting), but I'm hoping for my inner-child's sake that it's an early Christmas present.

Superman/Batman: Big Noise (Softcover)
Written by Joe Kelly; art by Adrian Syaf; published by DC Comics
As I've said elsewhere, these are always entertaining, and might be one of my favourite on-going series.

As you can see, it's gonna be a murder of a week. You're probably gonna be seeing a lot of Classic Reviews this week, including a very special one tomorrow.

(UPDATE: Thor the Mighty Avenger: The God Who Fell to Earth is not out in the UK for another two weeks, according to Amazon. Luckily, the next volume of Irredeemable is out early. Very, very good series.)

A-Musing: Covers

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but with comic books -- where the art is half of the experience -- one cannot help it.

Usually, comic book covers will be done by the same artist covering the interiors, but occasionally there will be a special guest artist, or even various variants to choose from. The cover is the comic's handshake in a way; its first impression which can often sway the indecisive reader.

But when it comes to trade collections, how do they choose what goes on the front? There's many covers, from each issue collected inside, to choose from; do they use the first issue's cover? Do they choose the nicest looking, and if so, who decides that? And what about those variants and guest artists? Do they even get a look-in?

The A-Team: War Stories (Classic Review)

Originally released earlier this year.

Writers: Chuck Dixon and Erik Burnham

Artists: Hugo Petrus, Casey Maloney, Alberto Muriel and Guiu Vilanova

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Collects: The A-Team: War Stories -- Hannibal, B.A., Face, Murdock

Welcome to the only review of A-Team related material that does not begin with a pastiche of the opening intro.

This trade collects four one-shots released as tie-ins for the Joe Carnahan movie, highlighting each member of the A-Team in action-adventure character spotlights from before they all met.

I read this before the film came out, I re-read this after I saw the film, and I re-read it again recently after the DVD release. What did I think each time?

Brightest Day Volume One (Review)

Writers: Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi

Artists: Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Fernando Pasarin, Adrian Syaf, Scott Clark and Joe Prado

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Brightest Day #0-7

Blackest Night concluded with twelve characters being resurrected from the dead by the enigmatic White Light of creation for some elusive purpose. Brightest Day follows these characters as they resume their ordinary lives, and slowly discover the reason behind their return.

"Slowly" being the operative word.

After the frenetic, action-packed Blackest Night, Brightest Day feels more along the lines of 52 or Batman: No Man's Land in terms of story pacing. We get the impression that there is something big unfolding here, it's just taking its time doing so.

A-Musing: Does Captain America Vote?

Disclaimer: This post is in no way about anything to do with real world politics, so I don't want to hear it.

A great many people often misunderstand Steve Rogers, better known to you and me as Captain America. Those who do not read his series think of him as a mindless tool of the U.S. government, spewing propaganda and slogans, and punching anything "un-American" in the face. I too was guilty of this gross misconception at one point.

But now I, and anyone who reads Captain America, know this to be untrue. Cap is first and foremost an agent of the people, not the state. He embodies American values such as freedom, justice and equality, independent of whoever happens to be in power. If the government starts singing a tune he's uncomfortable with, he's not afraid to stand apart. Or against.

Captain America represents all that's good about America, which is actually quite a lot, despite what we have allowed ourselves to believe for the sake of comedy or smugness. He is what America should be -- what America could very easily be, if everyone just gave a damn.

The Weekly Trade #3

What's new (for me) this week.

Brightest Day Volume One (Hardcover)
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi; art by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, et al; published by DC Comics

I have been eagerly awaiting this since Blackest Night finished. Some of my favourite B-list characters are in this, and Johns and Tomasi are two of my favourite writers. Cannot wait to see what the big mystery is.

Batman: Dead to Rights (Softcover)
Written by Andrew Kreisberg; art by Scott McDaniel; published by DC Comics

Lately, Batman Confidential (a series set early in Batman's career) has been a little hit-and-miss. Plus, I'm not really a big fan of Kreisberg or McDaniel. But the Joker's in it, so I'll give it a shot.

Planetary: Crossing Worlds (Softcover)
Written by Warren Ellis; art by John Cassaday, Phil Jimenez and Jerry Ordway; published by WildStorm

With Planetary all wrapped up and put to bed, I'm indulging in this book of three crossovers -- one with The Authority (Ellis's other WildStorm series), one with Batman, and one with the JLA.

Unfortunately, my shop did not seem to have Captain America: Two Americas, which I have been impatient for (it was supposed to be out last week). I'll keep looking though.

Stay tuned for reviews and such throughout the week!

Planetary: Spacetime Archaeology (Review)

Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: John Cassaday
Publisher: WildStorm/DC Comics
Collects: Planetary #19-27

What is it about British comics writers? They all seem to be able to tap into this fantastical, "the world behind the curtain" idea that I, being from the UK, love. Maybe it's something in the water.

Warren Ellis is no exception to this, and Planetary is a now-complete series that he did with (American) John Cassaday from 1998 to 2009, about the shadowy organisation Planetary, which is dedicated to investigating the secret history of the world.

But it is also so much deeper than just that intriguing premise. It is about exploring the tropes and archetypes of fictional storytelling in almost every medium since cavemen drew on walls. More on that later though; for now, let's talk about the three main characters.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Blackest Night (Classic Review)

Originally released earlier this year. I wrote this review for a different site when the trade came out and thought I'd repost it here.

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Ivan Reis

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Blackest Night #0-8; Blackest Night Director's Cut #1

DC's big Event story for this year comes out of Geoff Johns' run on Green Lantern. The dead are rising in the form of the Black Lanterns, and they are out to terrorise the living.

Like Larfleeze with his Power Battery, I could not put this book down. First of all, its visuals grab your attention and refuse to let go. I've never really been one for Ivan Reis' art – I don't hate it, it just never clicked with me – but Blackest Night completely won me over. Every single one of the eighty zillion characters that appears in this is stunning, with Reis capturing their beauty and/or power each time, whether they be in the back- or foreground.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Lone Ranger: Now and Forever (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2007.

Writer: Brett Matthews

Artist: Sergio Cariello (with art direction by John Cassaday)

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Collects: The Lone Ranger #1-6

Let's get one thing straight right away: The Lone Ranger is a superhero.

He wears a mask, he has a "sidekick", he rights wrongs. He's a superhero. He's in a significantly different category from most superheroes in comic books, but he is no less of an American cultural icon.

As such, it is no wonder that Dynamite eventually got around to giving this classic character a modern upgrade. Someone would have eventually. As a fan of Westerns, I decided to give it a try.

The Weekly Trade #2

What I bought this week.

The Walking Dead: Too Far Gone by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard - Still my favourite ongoing series in comics right now. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Planetary: Spacetime Archaeology by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday - Recently got into this old series from two great creators and have been loving it. I'll be sad to read the final instalment.

Fantastic Four: The Future Foundation by Jonathan Hickman and Neil Edwards - I was determined to read this in paperback, but dammit last week's trade got me excited for more, so I got the hardback.

Anyone else care to weigh in?

A-Musing: The Next Batman Movie Villain

With Christopher Nolan's next instalment in the Batman film series, The Dark Knight Rises (if that is its real name), set for a July 2012 release, speculation has been rampant online as to the identity of the villain(s).

Nolan is spoiled for choice, with over 70 years worth of material to dig through. Will he pick another big name character, or go for someone more C-list? This is the guy who made Inception, so who knows how his mind works.

But I can offer you my guesswork, based upon hours of speculation and logical reasoning that I just made up on the spot. Knowing the world as I do, there will very probably be an official announcement immediately upon my posting this list, so enjoy it while you can.

(This list only includes villains I consider to be high-level. No Penny Plunderer or Calendar Man. It also discounts villains that Nolan has explicitly denied, such as the Penguin, Mr. Freeze and the Riddler.)

Fantastic Four: Prime Elements (Review)

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Artist: Dale Eaglesham

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Collects: Fantastic Four #575-578

With this story, Jonathan Hickman has finally stepped out of the "testing the waters" period that every new writer goes through with iconic titles and firmly stepped into the "doing his own thing" category.

And, boy, do I love it.

Smart, funny, exciting -- this is everything I want from the Fantastic Four.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Where Do I Start With... Batman

Who?

Debuting in Detective Comics #27 in May of 1939, Batman/Bruce Wayne/The Dark Knight/The Caped Crusader/Matches Malone/The World's Greatest Detective was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, and remains one of DC's (and the planet's) most recognisable superheroes.

Orphaned when his parents were killed by a mugger in front of him, Bruce Wayne dedicated his life to fighting crime. Travelling the world, he acquired the skills and knowledge necessary for this cause, and now he tirelessly wages a one-man war on crime in Gotham City. But you probably knew all this already. I mean, it's Batman!

Okay, so where do I start?

The Weekly Trade #1

What I'm buying this week.

Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton (Volume One) by James Robinson and Sterling Gates with various artists - After reading the amazing New Krypton storyline, I'm very excited to see what happens next in this intruiging saga. I'm also loving both Robinson and Gates' work on this iconic character.

Fantastic Four: Prime Elements by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham - I'm a little behind here, because I only read the Fantastic Four in softcover. But I love the feel Hickman has given to this series, and can't wait to read this (after rereading his first volume; it's been a while).

(UPDATE: Turns out Return of the Dapper Men isn't out in the UK until December. I compensated by getting the next two items.)

Batman: Arkham Reborn by David Hine and Jeremy Haun - I think this is the only trade I'm missing from the early "Batman Reborn" era. Hopefully this will fill in a few gaps.

Superman/Batman: Night and Day by various writers and artists - Whenever I pick up one of these books, I am always pleasantly surprised by the quality. But I suppose with two of DC's biggest characters, i should be obvious. Plus, there's some excellent creative talent in this volume.

Look out for reviews throughout the week; and feel free to offer suggestions or tell me what you're picking up in trade this week, new or old.

A-Musing: Comics Writers as Film Directors

This was something I put together a while back after watching Jurassic Park and realising how similar it is to a Geoff Johns story (I refuse to explain further). I posted it on a few message boards and figured I might as well stick it up here too.

Geoff Johns/Steven Spielberg – Both recognised as maestros of their separate crafts, and in both cases it is well deserved. They know how to create memorable moments that stay with you forever, whether complex or simplistic, and they can tell the shiz out of a good story. Not to mention the fact that they have both been responsible for some of fiction's most iconic heroes.

James Robinson/Quentin Tarantino – One word comes to mind when thinking of these creators: Effortless. And that is by no means an insult. They both handle multiple-character stories brilliantly, getting across who each of these people are without beating you over the head about it. They can also put together a story perfectly, like a brick wall, but aren't afraid to throw in a few tricks too, all without breaking a sweat.

Thor: Siege Aftermath (Review)

Writer: Kieron Gillen

Artist: Richard Elson and Doug Braithwaite

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Collects: Thor #179-181, 611-614

At the end of the day, when all the numbers are counted up, I probably lean more favourably towards DC than Marvel. I don't know why, it's just one of those unknowable things.

That said, Thor is both my favourite Marvel character and series (a rare duo). I jumped on the series with J. Michael Straczynski's first trade and instantly loved it. When Kieron Gillen took over writing with Latverian Prometheus I was, like all comics fans are in such circumstances, a little worried.

But he pulled it off. Gillen aptly captured the tone and atmosphere of the series, and annihilated any doubt from my mind. I greatly anticipated his next big Thor story.

Superman: Earth One (Review)

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Artist:  Shane Davis

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Original graphic novel

For those of you who are not aware, Superman: Earth One is DC's recent attempt to "moderise" Superman for today's audience. It is a self-contained story that retells the classic origin we all know and love.

A young Clark Kent arrives in Metropolis, unsure of what to do with his life. Eventually facing an alien threat, he realises that he can only save humanity by standing apart from them as Superman, but still must hold on to the human values he was raised with.

There were two moments that stood out in this for me. One was in the writing and one was in the art, so I guess that works out pretty well.